King: Writing block.

Knox: Getting that out of the way, huh?

King: I don't have the same time I used to, so yes. Anyway, this is going to be based on probably the scene that made me like the character in question. Both, really. Any who, I hope you enjoy as usual and thanks for sticking with me with long.

Knox: Uh...

King: We're not going anywhere. Just a thank you for their patience.

Knox: Okay good.

Inspiration: Bleach

/\

The screen thought things were a little too light for now. It wanted to play with that, but not too far in the twisted direction. More like a bitter triumph…

The screen opened to a cityscape as seen from the sky. A foot smacked down onto the air itself. A straw sandal with black hakama fluttered in the breeze. The camera pulled away to show Jaune Arc standing in the middle of the sky. He was revealed to be wearing a full black Shihakusho. A band with a badge was wrapped on his left sleeve. In his hand was a katana held ready.

Opposite him, however… The figure before him was Raven Branwen, dressed in white hakama, boots, a pair of white sleeves, and some wrapping over her breasts. A series of red tattoos adorned her upper body. Her head was covered by a white helmet resembling a bird's skull. A katana hung at her side .

Raven raised her eyebrow seeing her counterpart. The style was okay, but nothing too impressive to her.

Yang grumbled, but hoped this would show her biological mother get her butt kicked.

Raven widened her stance and immediately started yelling. She started going off about killing Jaune and all the hellish things she'd do.

The scene was so ridiculous that it got everyone, except Raven, laughing.

Jaune deadpanned at the scene, "What the heck are you doing?"

Raven did not seem to take that well. "What are you talking about?! This is the sacred ritual of warriors! This is where you're supposed to respond!"

"I am not doing that."

This just pissed Raven off further. "How dare you! I will NOT have you disrespect me like this! What is your name, Soul Reaper?! So that I may etch it onto your very spine!"

This got Yang to wince, "Yikes."

Jaune's eyes narrowed, "I'm the Lieutenant of Squad 3 of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, Jaune Arc."

Ironwood raised an eyebrow, "He's a lieutenant?"

"Not in your terms." King explained. "Lieutenants in this world are second in command to their Captains, who are thus under the Captain of the First Squad or the Captain General."

"Squad Three?" A realisation hit Raven in that moment. "Oh~ I get it now. You were in Lie's Squad."

Jaune hitched and tightened his grip on his blade.

Ren raised an eyebrow, "In my squad? So I'm the Captain of this Squad Three?"

Jaune tapped his chair in though, "But how does she know that?"

A flashback to an old scene with Jaune standing behind a figure in similar garb but with a long white Haori coat. On the back was a symbol with three horizontal lines of varying sizes. The man before him had dark hair with a pink streak that flowed out down his back. The camera never showed his face, but it was clear that this was Captain Lie Ren, Jaune's leader.

Nora giggled, "So Ren's the leader in this one?"

King and Knox both take in a sharp breath.

As they walked through the courtyard, Ren suddenly stopped. "Is something wrong Jaune?"

"What?"

"You've been off these past few days."

"I apologize, sir. I'll try to remain composed in the future."

"Now that's no good, Jaune. Why don't you go get some rest. Enjoy a break."

Nora grinned, "Aw, they're like friends~"

Jaune shook his head, "With all due respect sir, I am your lieutenant. I can't afford to just go off to rest."

"Don't worry about it." The camera finally showed his face. His eyes were narrow and his grin was spread from ear to ear. It was the face that would seem more at home on a snake, coiled and knowing it was about to kill. I'm just going to visit an old friend."

A chill ran up through many of their spines. Seeing Ren with anything larger than a small smirk was rare. This was odd to see on its own, but the type of smile made everything he said seem sinister in retrospect.

Another flash showed Ren, Salem, and Hazel ascending into a Garganta torn into the sky, surrounded by glowing yellow light.

After that, the scene returned to the present.

Raven continued, "It all makes sense. No wonder he left a weakling like you behind-" She was interrupted by a blade swinging for her head. She was able to block it, but only just.

"Don't ever mention that traitor in my presence."

That. That hurt many of the students. Jaune and Ren were like brothers. And to know that one betrayed the other, was painful to even imagine for them.

Raven jumped back, now sporting a manic grin. "That's much better!" She swung her blade around to a standby, "Rend the top of the Mountain! Aguila!"

A scene change brought the camera away as a red light suddenly appeared in the sky. Sad light then seemed to dart forward before a part of the streets erupted in the distance.

"Hey! Hold on!" Ruby shouted, "That was like that Hollow Jaune one!"

"Oh yeah!" Yang brought her fist down into her open palm. "I almost forgot about that one."

"Not surprising." King nodded once, "That Jaune and this Raven are the same species. By releasing their Zanpakuto, they change form."

"Zan-what-toe?" Nora's head tilted.

"That's the sword. They are katana, usually, with a piece of the wielder's soul within. For Arrancar like Raven reform into what they used to be. Meanwhile, Soul Reapers like this Jaune create a synergistic union with the spirit to change the blade's form and its abilities."

"Spirit in the sword?!" Ruby was instantly invented more than ever. Ever since the world where Jaune actually turned into a weapon, and a scythe no less, she was interested in the idea. She had so many ideas about what her own weapon could sound like.

"Yep. Though… they don't all get along, per se."

As some dust flew through the street, the scene stopped to show Ruby dressed in the same black Shihakusho uniform as Jaune, though she'd removed her sleeves. A set of stylized chains were wrapped around one arm like a band and another around her neck like a choker.

Across from her showed a man in white with a skull-like mask over his head. A protrusion from his left wrist formed forward as an extra blade. Long blue hair fell back across his back. He looked off toward the impact with a grin. "Seems someone is having fun."

Sun would have done a spit take if he had a drink, "That's Neptune!"

Neptune blinked, a bit surprised at being the antagonist.

Neptune turned back to Ruby, "Guess we should get to it then. What is your rank, Soul Reaper?"

"I am Ruby Rose, Lieutenant of Squad Nine."

Yang chuckled, "Guess the leaders are the second in command in this one."

Neptune smirked, "I see. Then I shall respond in kind. I shall battle you with the same power as that of one of your Lieutenants." He drew his blade and charged forward.

Ruby and Neptune traded blows, sparks flying between them. Ruby spun after one clash and kicked Neptune away. As the Arrancar righted himself, he found Ruby's blade at his face. Barely able to parry the attack, Neptune leapt away with a growl.

But Ruby didn't pursue, "I don't get it."

"Get it? Get what?"

"A second ago you said you'd fight at the level of a lieutenant. But with your power, I'd peg you at about a Fifth Seat at best."

Neptune smirked, clapping one before pointing to Ruby, "Exacta! You got it."

"Wait, what's going on?" Ruby asked.

Neptune tapped his foot on the ground, "A build up."

Ruby raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"As you said, my current level is equivalent to one of your Fifth Seat Officers." He raised his off hand and struck his mask, shattering a small section. As he flew forward, he clashed with Ruby again.

But Ruby noticed something off, Did his attack just get stronger?

"Now I'm at a Fourth Seat." He tore away the jawline of his mask. Slamming his blade against a guarding Ruby, "Third Seat!"

"So the less of a mask he has, the stronger he gets?" Penny's head tilted in thought.

"That's the idea." Knox grinned. "The greatest irony between Hollows and Soul Reapers is that by becoming like the other, their most mortal enemies, makes them more powerful."

"Now then, I hope you're ready." Neptune shattered most of his mask, leaving only what could be described as an eyepatch at most. "Because now, I'm at lieutenant!"

Neptune charged forward again, another clash resulting. However, this time Ruby found it more difficult to retaliate. The two seemed on an even playing field now. Their battle tore the street apart before Ruby tried to retreat with Neptune on her heel. The two eventually ended up at a suspension bridge, standing atop the massive wire.

"That was insane!" Nora was getting into the spirit of the fight now.

Neptune chuckled, "I'm impressed so far. You've certainly proven the strength of a Soul Reaper Lieutenant. But this is only the beginning, Soul Reaper."

Ruby's eyes narrowed, "It's Ruby Rose. I told you that at the start."

Neptune blinked before chuckling, "Mis disculpas. My Apologies. I was so caught up in the moment I forgot introductions. My name is Neptune Vasilias, loyal Fraccion of Queen Cinder."

This instantly got Cinder attention.

This just got King and Knox to chuckle to themselves.

Ruby's stance widened slightly as she prepared for stronger attacks.

Neptune smirked seeing this. "You have seen our power as equals, let's see if you can keep up from here on."

"You're Resureccion, right?"

Neptune smirk grew, "Exacta." He swung his blade upward before pointing it toward Ruby. "Now, Carve the Water." Neptune was obscured by light before being shown in full. He now had a giant pincer and armor that covered his right side. "Pinza Aguda."

"So he was a crab guy before?" Nora snickered.

Neptune took a breath, calming himself back down again after seeing the large river under the bridge.

Neptune disappeared only to appear again behind Ruby, ready to strike. The Lieutenant was able to block it, but it sent her flying from the force. Ruby tried to retaliate, but the massive pincer could also be used to shield Neptune from the attack.

Neptune laughed, "What happened, Lieutenant?! Is that all you can do after all?"

Ruby growled and reached to her armband, a click sending it toward her opponent. The chains reacted to their freedom by starting to glow until they exploded. The damage was minimal, but they distracted him long enough for Ruby to utilize a Kido technique. "Bakudo #62! Hyapporankan!" A pillar of light appeared in her hand before she tossed it like javelin. It separated into a series of smaller pillars and slammed into Neptune and pinned him to a wall.

"And they can use magic?!" Nora gasped. "Am I in this one! Please!"

"Sorry, you are not."

Nora deflated a bit.

Ruby flew toward Neptune with sword ready to kill, "It's over!"

"Don't underestimate me!" Neptune swung his larger pincer toward Ruby. Something flew out from the pincer, narrowly missing Ruby, and slicing a billboard in two behind her.

This got Ruby to back off, A Cero? No. It was something else. When Neptune fired another shot, it rent the asphalt beneath Ruby apart and left some kind of liquid behind. "High pressure water?"

Neptune felt a chill run up his spine. This was a little too close to home with his phobia now.

"Exacta." Neptune tore the wall behind him apart and was leaping toward Ruby. "But you shouldn't take your eyes off your opponent. No es exacto. Wrong move."

Ruby had to doge more water slices, trying to cut through those she couldn't dodge. However, they started to surround her in a bubble of swirling death. There was no opening, no escape.

Tai and Qrow were a little worried, but also hopeful she could escape.

The camera hung on the orb of water for a moment. Ruby's voice echoing for a moment. "Reap. Kazeshini." What resembled a circular saw sliced through the water before it all flew apart. And there stood Ruby with her weapon in released state, its Shikai. Her blade had reformed as a pair of twin scythes, each with an inverted blade opposite the original to make them resemble a pinwheel. A chain between them held the weapon together.

Ruby was starry eyed again and practically drooling, "Oh my gosh that's so cool!"

Neptune smirked, "So, that's your release state? I have to ask, what took you so long to use your weapon's power?"

Ruby took one of the scythes in hand, looking into the reflective metal. "If I'm being honest, it's because I don't like it."

Ruby went off. "BLASPHEMY!"

This got everyone to jump at her outburst.

"Don't like it?"

Ruby nodded. "Yeah. I mean, it works fine. But I can't stand the shape of it." She swung the scythe down, holding it up by the chain. The normal scythe blade hung in front of her face in a way that allowed her look over it toward him. "Like it was made for reaping human lives."

Then, here and now, Ruby felt a chill about the stance of scythes.

Neptune couldn't believe what he was hearing.

But Ruby didn't care. "Are you scared?"

"Scared?"

"That's right. Scared. Because I am."

"Huh? Scared of what? Of your own immense power?! How conceited can you get?!"

"A warrior who doesn't fear his own blade, isn't worthy of it. That's something I learned from Captain Hazel." Her hand tightened around her weapon, angry about Hazel's betrayal. But she still looked back on what he taught her now and then.

Neptune scoffed, "Oh please." He charged forward to attack Ruby, "To feel fear of your own power or even that of your opponent is hardly something we as warriors should feel."

Neptune flew forward and a clash began again. As Ruby parried these attacks, her weapon created small vortexes of wind to slice through the water. Coupling this with more use of Kido, she pushed Neptune back. As their battle continued, Ruby pushed him into the air and flung her weapon toward him, which he dodged. Reeling back for another shot of water, Ruby pulled back on the chain, bringing her weapon back, down toward her cutting the pincer on his right arm in half along its length.

Neptune winced and grabbed his own arm in sympathy.

The Neptune on screen was still in shock.

Above him Ruby stood atop a light post swinging her weapon over her head as the scythe spun like a whirlwind of death. "You're finally afraid. Good. You're my equal at last."

Neptune growled, "Like hell!" He took his smaller pincer and snapped away more of his mask. His spiritual pressure exploded around him as he laughed. "With over Ninety percent of my mask destroyed, I am now as powerful as a Captain! A Lieutenant like you doesn't stand a chance!"

He was cut off by a blade flying through his shoulder and into his lower neck. Ruby stood as Neptune fell to the ground, his blood falling from what life he had left. "As strong as a captain you said? Sorry, you weren't even close."

Neptune groaned, but acquiesce that it was better off he lost here if a previous variation was anything to go off of.

The scene transitioned to show Jaune flying through the air. He looked over his shoulder before turning toward his attacker. He brought his hand to the back of his blade, "Bakudo #39! Enkosen!" A swirling yellow barrier appeared in front of him. But whatever flew by shattered it with ease and knocked him back.

This made many of them jump as they almost forgot about Jaune versus Raven.

As Raven laughed, the camera showed a pair of bright red wings unfolding. Hands and feet resemble the talons of a raptor. A head covered by a mask of a bird skull. Her body was covered in red feathers. A long cloth wrapped around her waist to cover her lower half. Her upper half, however, left nothing to the imagination. Her chest was bare and only granted 'modesty' by a set of black marks that wrapped from her lower shoulders and over both breasts. Four small marks could be found below over her stomach.

Raven felt her eye twitch and her face burning up with anger and embarrassment. Thankfully for her, everyone around her was either desensitized or had the decency to glance away.

Save for one. Mercury let out a whistle, of course.

Raven laughed as she hung in the sky. "Did you think that could stop me? These aren't normal wings. They're wings of steel! Heavier than boulders!" To punctuate this, she flapped her wings, causing a few of her feathers to fly to the building around Jaune and break against the concrete.

Jaune adjusted his stance to the side slightly. "Wings of Steel huh? That's a good name, makes them sound strong. But that doesn't change the fact they're still wings." Jaune released his sword and tapped the side of its hilt, causing it to spin. "Hado #58." He grabbed his blade again with both hands suddenly as he continued, "Tenran!" A whirlwind shot out from his blade and toward Raven, matching how his blade had been spinning.

Sun had the moment of realization, "Oh! I get it. Powerful winds could make it hard to fly."

"Assuming that would work." Neptune thought out loud.

Raven didn't seem too affected. "So you thought that because they're wings a tornado could mess them up. You'll have to do better than that!" She swung her wing and pushed the winds away from the weight and power of her wings. As the winds dissipated, however, it was revealed that Jaune had broken through the roof and entered the building beneath him.

Within, Jaune ran through the hallway, talking to himself. "Her speed and power are tough to deal with. But if I can lure her into a narrow space…" He made a sign with his hand before pointing his open palm to the side, "Hado #31. Shakkaho!" A red ball of energy appeared before blowing a hole in the side of the building.

Raven's eyes narrowed seeing this, "Giving away his position? An obvious trap."

The Raven in the audience had her eyes narrow as well. "But what's the trap here?"

That said, this Raven was not one for patience or the idea of strategy. "Stop trying to confuse me you damned rat! Devorar Pluma!" She swung her wings forward and her feather flew out like darts of death.

Ruby's head tilted a bit, "That's strangely similar to how Nevermores attack…"

As the first of the feathers slammed through the roof, Jaune had to duck the incoming assault. He ran as more began to rend the building in their way. "Those things can pierce cement walls?!" He was pulled away from his thoughts as the building around him started to collapse from the assault by steel feathers. He had no choice but to leap through the window and back out into the wider world.

"There you are!" Raven swung another set of feathers toward him.

Jaune sliced through various light polls and kicked off to let them take the incoming hit.

"Damn rat! Hiding behind everything."

As Jaune flew along, he was thinking things over in his head. It doesn't look like she's running out of feathers. Which means they must regrow from where she shoots them. In that case...

"All this running around. He must be trying to buy time to think up some strategy. Not going to happen." Raven dug one of her talon claws into her shoulder along the black marking, dragging it down along each. Even stabbing into the lower marks.

Yang felt a chill of unnerving energy, "What the hell is she doing?"

Raven shook for a moment before a burst of blood flew out from her marks. As she roared out, her wings split apart into four with marks on her skull/mask dividing in kind. This was Devorar Erupcion, allowing her to increase her speed and power. She flew even faster toward the blond lieutenant with a swing of her heavy wing, tearing apart the top of the building he'd landed on. Raven, not finding any signs of Jaune, shouted, "Where did you run off to this time?!" Though, a glance downward showed the blond beneath one of her wings. "What's wrong? Did your legs get crushed?"

Nora felt her eye twitch.

"Was I too fast for you Pathetic. I wasn't even going at my full speed."

But Jaune said, "I should thank you."

"What?" Raven blinked in confusion.

Jaune continued, "Your long range attacks were pretty difficult to handle. In fact, all this time I've been trying to figure out a way to draw you into close combat. My Zanpakuto only works on things connected to my opponent." The dust started to settle away to reveal his blade had changed. It had formed into a straight blade with two right angles that had it create a hook of sorts. The bladed end of the weapon was on the inner section of the hook.

Ruby groaned, "That is so wrong as a weapon it hurts. Why have a blade shaped like that? If the blade was on the outside it would make sense, but it's not. It's not good for cutting at all. It's a club at best."

"Trust me," King smirked, "It's a perfect design for what he needs it to do."

Raven scoffed, "And just what do you think a weird looking sword like that can cut?" Cue moment of impact. Raven's wing suddenly fell to the roof and pulled her down with it, cracking into the stone beneath her. "What?! What's going on? My wings… can't move."

"My blade doubles the weight of anything it hits." Jaune took a step closer to the warrior. "A second strikke doubles the weight again. And a third strike doubles it once more. "Now you've felt the power of my Zanpakuto, Wabisuke." A flashback showed Jaune release his sword by calling Raise your Head, Wabisuke. It also showed four strikes against Raven's wings. "I managed to strike your wings a total of four times. If you weren't just braggin, and your wings truly are heavier than boulders, then there's no way you can fly anymore."

Elm let out an impressed whistle, "Damn! Kid's good. Scary good."

Raven growled, "You bastard. You're fighting dirty. A true warrior wouldn't pull tricks like that."

"Fighting dirty? Oh I'm sorry, but weren't you the one shouting her head off trying to get me to lose my cool before the fight began? If that's how a true warrior is supposed to behave, then I must not understand the concept."

Yang grinned with a sound of affirmation, "Dang that's a good line."

Here it comes. King thought. The thing that may well shake a few of them to their cores.

"Squad Three's symbol is the marigold. A flower that represents despair. That in essence is the crux of how my Squad fights. Battles aren't supposed to be heroic affairs. They aren't fun or exciting. To us, every battle is filled with despair. They are dark. Horrid. Grizzly. Reminders that we should walk the path of peace whenever possible. It's why I believe my Zanpakuto, Wabisuke, upholds this philosophy better than any other weapon in the Soul Society. Each strike weighs down my opponent until they are on their hands and knees as if to beg for forgiveness. Wabisuke means to apologize."

That. That, for lack of a better term, weighed heavy on their souls. It was likely something that would haunt them for the rest of their lives.

Raven, however, disagreed. She began to laugh slowly at first before bursting out into full laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"You can't be serious. Dispair? Fear fighting? Avoid battle? I'll say what you had, I must not understand your concept." Raven focused, beginning to glow red as her spiritual power welled. She lurched upward and slowly returned to her feet. "Battles are supposed to be about pushing yourself past your limits. Relishing it. So you can crush your enemies. It's supposed to be exhilarating!" She rose to the air, wings ready again. "DEVORAR PLUMA!" She unleashed wave after wave of steel feathers toward Jaune, tearing the building up behind him.

Raven, despite somewhat agreeing that battles are about pushing one's limits, did disagree about the exhilerating part. To her, it was about survival. Nothing more or less.

As the attack ended, Raven jumped slightly at a realization. Jaune was behind her with Wabisuke on his shoulder like nothing happened. With two more strikes to both sets of wings, Raven was on her hands and knees again. She strained, trying to get her body to move, "Damn it. How?"

"I knew your fate was sealed the moment I rendered even one of your wings useless. After all, a bird that can't fly is easy prey." The camera hung close to Jaune as he continued "I believe you asked me just what this 'weird looking sword' of mine could cut. Isn't that right?" Cut to the moment with Wabisuke wrapped around Raven's neck.

This got Ruby to jump. The weapon's form and design… as odd as it was, had a purpose. An actual design that incorporated it's ability. It was pretty sobering considering her critique before.

As this happened, a somber piano played in the background of the scene.

Raven shook, now out of options. "W-wait. Please…" Even a warrior like her feared death. It was simply instinct. Surly mercy could still be possible.

But Jaune refused. "A true warrior wouldn't beg for his life." A swift pull of the blade upward and Raven was no more. Jaune stood as the wind kicked up a bit. He swung his blade as though to swing off the blood from the steel. "Farewell Warrior of the Skies." He started to return his blade to his scabbard. "Promise me… that you'll never forgive me." His blade returned to its home and the screen went black with a flash of light like the blade's reflection.

Thus was the end of the viewing.

Yang looked around, seeing how down everyone seemed. "Well that was… heavy."

Weiss felt her eye twitch. "Really? Is that really what you say right now?"

"I'm just trying to lighten the mood a bit. Frankly, we need it after… that."

Weiss wanted to say something, but she had to concede the point. Making everyone groan at least lifted their spirits a bit after the admittedly heavy ending. Even if she had a distaste for those puns.